Machine for closing cages of roller-bearings



E. G. STRONG AND E. C. ROHN.

MACHINE FOR CLOSING CAGES 0F ROLLER BEARINGS:

APPL'ICATION FILED AR; 1 9. 1920.

E. e. STRONG AND E. c. ROHN. MACHINE FOR CLOSING GAGES 0F ROLLER BEARINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MARPl9,1920.' Patented Apr. 19

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a Q 7 wai ERNEST G. STRONG AND EARL C. ROHN, OF CANTON, OHIO,

Assienons TO 'iiiin MACHINE ECIR CLOSING CAGES OF ROLLER-BEARINGS.

Application filed March 19, 1920. Serial B70. 367,050.

To m7 (c/ 1.0722 it may concern:

lle it known that we, Enirrsr G. STRONG and EARL C. R0111, citizens of the United States, and residents oi the city of Canton, in the county of Stark and State of (lhio, have invented a new and useful improve incnt in Machines for Closing Cages of Roller-Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to machines for closing in the cages of roller bearings; and it has for its principal objects to devise a machine that will automatically press the cage stays ito proper relation to the rollers and to each other; to devise means for accomplishing this result without exposing the hands of the operator to danger and which will operate rapidly and economically. The invention consists in the part-sand combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Figure l is a planview of the closing-in die embodying our invention, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the in cention:

Fig. :2 is a fragnientaiw side view of a.

power-press showing the closing-in die in position on the bed of the press: I

Fig. 3 a 'crtical section taken through the closing-i i die on the line 3-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. l a fragmentary vertical section taken through the work receiving opening of the machine. the cage, inner bearing nieinher and rollers shown in position in the work 'recei'ving opening and the finger plate being shown in a position prior to their engage ment with the bridges of the cage.

Fin. is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the linger plates engage the bridges of the cage;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the slot in which the plunger works, the section beiiig taken on the line (5-() of Fig. 1 and the plunger beingsliowii ready to engage the beveled surface of the cam ring block; and

l ig. 7 is a vertical detail section taken through the plunger and plunger holder.

()ur machine is primarily intended for operation on roller bearings ot' the kind illustrated in Alden Patent No. 921,656, dated lllay 18, 1.909.. A ge of this type is shown in Fig" of the accompanying drai i an l o ii'igs and comprises annular end members A Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr,

connected by longitudinally disposed bridges B, which are provided with fiaps'C. o'i' 'the like to form pockets for the rollers Dgfai d such cages are usually made of sheet-metal cut and pressed into shape. The roll e" *are disposed inv the pockets of the cagewit'li'tlie inner bearing member E in position inside oi the cage. In the process of inaking'tlie cage or in the subsequent handling thereof,

the bridges are liable to be more bi" less I bowed eiidwise; and it is necessary to fc'lo in all of the bridges, that is, to bring, them into proper relation to the rollers throughout their length. According to our-invention, the closing in operation is effected. upon all of the bridges simultaneously by a ser es of fingers, which are actuated by a ca ni, and are equal to the bridges in number and arranged to operate against said bridges with respect to the axis of the 1 a 5 Referring to Fig 1 of the drawings, our device comprises a die block 1,. adapted; to be mounted on the bed 2 otthe well-known type of power-press, and a tapered pl-unger 3 whose upper end portionis held in tlie-igi vertical reciprocatory slide bar l'ofthe pr'css in a usual manner. This" slide bar works in vertical slide ways termed 111 the frame-of the press and is mounted on the'lower end of the rain or pitman- 5 thereof. This pitman" receives its motion from an'eccentricoii a shaft which, upon depressing aloot-treadle, is rotated one complete revolutionand'causes the rain to descend and ascend. Tlilsl'ncllih nisni for lowering and raising the slide ban-" is well-known, and, therefore, it is not shown in the accompanying drawings,

The die block 1, which can, beqse'ci' red to the bed 2 of the press in any desired manner, comprises an outer nei'nberb, an

inner member 7 and a top cover late 8. The outer member is preferably made in the form of a cylindrical shell for easing whose inner wall is oli'set inwardly at the base thereof to form an inwardly project ing annular shoulder or horizontal, ledge portion 9. This shoulder forms an open ng of reduced diameter in the ba'se'ot thecasing which is concentric with the opening,

in the upper portion thereof. The inner member 7 is located centrally within the casing and comprises a circular base flange 10, which fits within the reduced opening formed by the annular shoulder 9 of the casing to close the same, and a concentric cylindrical portion 11 of reduced diameter,

'-which projects uwpardly from the base flange. and terminates flush with the upper surface of the die casing. The cylindrical portion 11 of the inner member is' concentric with the cylindrical die casing and is spaced from the inner wall thereof, thus forming an annular recess 12 in the upper face of the die. The upwardly projecting cylindrical portion 11 of the inner member is provided with a central bore whose lower portion 13 is cylindrical and whose upper portion 14 tapers outwardly from the cylindrical portion 13 of the here to the top of the cylindrical portion 11 of the 'inner member. A tubular sleeve 12 is fitted within the cylindrical portion 13 of the central bore of the inner member. I The upper edge of this sleeve is beveled to form a seat for one of the annular end members A of the roller cage. The tapered portion 14 of the central bore of the inner member is provided with a series of shallow concavities 15 of a curvature corresponding to the conical surfaces of the bearing rollers D. The

inner member is held in position in the outer die casing by means of a series of cap screws 16, which extend horizontally through the shoulder portion 9 of the die casing and are threaded into the circular base flange 10 of the inner member 7. The cover plate 8, which is of the same diameter as the die casing, fits over the top of the casing sand closes the annular recess 12 formed in the die. The cover plate has a beveled cenastral circular opening 17 which surrounds the upper end of the tapered portion 14 of the central bore in the inner member 7. The outer margin of the cover plate 8 is secured to the die casing 6 by means of cap screws 18, which extend vertically through the cover plate 8 and are threaded into the wall of the die casing. The cover plate is also secured to the inner member 7 by means of a series of cap screws 1!). which extend vertically through the cover plate adjacent to the central opening 17 thereof, and are threaded into the upper end of the cylindrical portion 11 of the in nor member.

A ring 20 is arranged for rotation within the annular recess 12, which is formed by the inner member 7*and outer member 6 of the die, and is supported on the annular shoulder t) of the outer die casing. A block 21 is dovetailediinto the outer wall of the ring 20 and projects horizontally there- 'from. This block is further secured to'the ring by means of cap screws 22 which extend horizontally through the block and are threaded into the ring. The annular recess 12, adjacent to the block 21, is extended outwardly through the wall of the die easing into an extension 23 of the die casing in the form of a pocket 24. This pocket is not covered by the cover plate 8 and is of a width sutiicient to accommodate a movement oi the ring block 21. The ring 20 has a series of equally spaced vertically disposed grooves formed in its inner wall in which are located a series of cam blocks These blocks extend from top to bottom of the ring and are secured in their slots by means of cap-screws 26, which extend horizontally through the rin and are threaded into the blocks The inner faces of the blocks are beveled as at 26, the angle being such that the inner vertical edge of each block, facing the direction in which the ring rotates, is further away from the cyliinlriral portion 11 ot' the inner member than the opposite vertical edge of the block. The beveled faces 26 of the blocks 25 are adapted to engage the outer edges of a series of vertically disposed finger plates 27.

These plates 27 are arranged for horizontal sliding movement in a series of vertically disposed radially spaced slots 28 formed in the cylindrical portion 11 of the inner member 7. These slots extend from the outer wall of the'cylindrical portion 1.1 of the inner member to the wall of the tapered portion 14 of the central bore there- The inner edges of the l" iger plates 27 are beveled as at 29 and project a suitable distance beyond the tapering; portion 14 of the central bore of thc'inner member 7 in their normal (outermost) positions. Thefinger plates are held in their outermost positions by means of coil springs 30. These springs are mounted in a series of radially spaced horizontal pockets 31 which extend inwardly from the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 11 of the inner member of the die. The pockets 31 are located close to the finger plates 27 and their walls, adjacent to the plates, are slotted as at 32 to permit pins 33, which project from the finger plates, to enter the pockets. These pins 33 project from one side of the finger plates 27 and extend through the slots 32 therefor across the outer ends of the coil springs 30.

The ring block 21 is held against a vertical stop plate 1-H in the pocket 24 of the extensions 23 of the die casing 6 by means ofcoil springs 35. These springs are located in horizontal slots 36 cutin the side wall of" the outer case on opposite sides 120.}: a

thereof. One end of each spring'is attached 1 to a vertical pin 37'threaded into the bottom of the slot 36 therefor and its opposite end is attached to the outer end of a pin 38 which is threaded into the cam ring 20. These slots are of sutlicient length to enable the m 38 to move with the cam ringand stretch the springs 35 when the ring is rotated.

Extending through the extension 23:0f the die easing 6 from top to bottom thereof. is a vertical slot 39. This slot is provided messes I gle of the beveled surface'of thering block corresponds to the angle of a beveled surface 45 on the plunger 3, which is held in the slide bar 4 of the power-press.

This plunger is located directly above the beveled surface-43 of the ring block 21 and has a cylindrical shank portion 46 slidably mounted in a bore, of a cylindrical holder 47. This plunger holder is clamped in a hole in the slide bar4 ofthe press in any desired manner. The plunger 3 has a reduced cylindrical portion 48 which extends upwardly through a reduced bore therefor in the punch holder 47. The upper end of the reduced portion 48 of the shank portion of the plunger projects above the upper end of the punch holder and is threaded to receive an adjusting nut 49 and a lock nut 50.- The plunger 3 and the plunger holder 47 are both provided with annular flanges 51. A. heavy coil spring 52 is arranged between the respective flanges 51 of the punch and punch holder and thus holds these two members apart. With this arrangement the stroke of the plunger may be varied by tightening or loosening the adjusting nut 49. The action of ti htening this nut causes the plunger =3 to be drawn up into the plunger holder 47, thus increasingth'e space between the lower end of the plunger and the top of the die. \Vhen the nut is loosened,

this action permits the spring to force the plunger downwardly and thus lessen the distance between the lower edge of the plunger and the top of the die.

The operation'of the machine is as follows: The cage with the rollers in the pockets thereof and with the inner bearing E in position therein is dropped into the tapered portion 14 of the central bore of the inner member of the die, with its bottom (smaller) annularend flange resting on the upper end of the tubular sleeve 12 located in the cylindrical portion 13 of the-central bore in the inner memberf. The upper edge of this sleeve'is beveled to conform'to" the inclination of the annular flange of the page which rie'sts thereon. The outer surfaces of the rollers fit into the shallow concavities 15 formed in the wall of the tapered bore 14 and the bridges of the cage are arranged opposite the-beveled inner ends of the finger plates 27. Thereppon the .power press is actuated and causes the plunger 3 to descend which action causes the beveled surface 45 thereof to engage the corresponding beveled surface 43 of the ring blocli2l. The 'wedging action resulting from the engagement of the two inclined faces of the plunger S and ring block 21 forces the cam ring ijn the direction indicated by the arrow H in Fig. 1 and causes the cam ring to be partially rotated. This partial rotation of the cam ring 20,, causes the .;-bevel ed. cam ,faces 26 of'the cam blocks 25 secured thereto to engage the outer ends of the finger .plates27 and force the same inwardly. This inward movement of the fingerplates causes their beveled inner edges to bear against all of the bridges B of the cage simultaneously with sufiicient force to straighten out the bridges and to bring them into proper relation to the rollers D'of the bearing. This inward movement of the fingers 27 also tends to spread the flaps C, which form the pockets for the rollers, and causes these flaps to embrace the rollers. With the construction illustrated in the drawings, the operation is effected quite. rapidly and with great safety to the operator. The source of power is a press of an ordinary type; but instead of the work being under thegplunger, it is considerably olfset'therefrorn; that is to say the tapering bore in which the worlr its is considerably removed from the press. Thus, in feeding the machine, the operators hands are quite free from danger.

What we claim is:

1. In a machine for closing in conical roller bearing cages, a press having a plurality of radially disposed horizontal plungers, angularly spacedto conform to the spacing of the bridges of a cage and having their inner ends beveled to conform, to the taper of such cage, cam means for simultaneously moving said plungers, and an operating member arranged to actuate said cam means.

2. In a machine for closing inroller bearing cages, a :press having a horizontal bed plate, a die mounted on said bed plate and having an opening adapted to receive a conical cage, a plurality of radially disposed horizontal plungers surrounding said opening, a cam ring'surrounding said plungers for simultaneously moving the same inwardly, and a vertically operating member arranged to actuate said cam ring, said operating member being oifset with respect to the central axis of said opening, whereby the fingers of the operator may be kept out of the danger zone. a v

- 3. In combination with, a press having a bed plateand a vertilly movable plunger. of a diesupported on said bed plate, said die having a circular opening adapted to receive roller bearing cages, work engaging means in said die disposed and movable radially of said opening andadaptedto engage the bridges of cages in the receiving opening thereof, -means for actuating said work engaging means, said actuating means having a projecting portion offsetwith rcspect to the opening of said die and lying in the path-of the a movable plunger. of said i &

opening adapted to receive the work, said opening being offset with respect to said plunger, a series of plates disposed and movable radially with respect to said opening for engaging the work therein, and means for actuating said work engaging plates, said actuating means having a portion extending into the path of said plunger so as to be engaged by said plunger to actuate said work engaging plates.

5. In combination with a press having a bed plate and a vertically movable plunger, of a die supported on said bed plate, said die comprising a hollow casing having a central,

opening therein adapted to receive the work, a series of radially slidable fingers located in said die and extending into said central opening, a ring located in said die and surrounding said fingers, said ring having cam faces adapted to engage said fingers for moving the same toward the axis of the work receiving opening and bein adapted to be engaged by said plunger, w iereby said ring when engaged by said plunger will be partially rotated and cause the cam faces thereof to engage the fingers and force the same inwardly toward the axis of the opening in said die, and means for returning said cam ring and said fingers to their normal positions. i

6. A die comprising a casing having a central opening adapted to receive the work, a series of radially spaced finger plates slidably mounted in said die casing and extending through the wall of the central opening therein, yieldable means for normally holding said fingers in their outermost positions.

a ring rotatably mounted within said casing, said ring surrounding said finger plates, series of cam blocks removably secured to the inner face of said ring and being adapted to engage the outer ends of said finger plates, said ring having a projected portion provided with a beveled face, a stop for said ring, yieldable means for holding the projectingortion of said ring againstsaid stop an for holding the removable cam blocks thereon out of engagement with said finger plates, and a movably mounted plunger for actuating said ring, said plunger having a beveled portion adapted to engage the beveled face of the projecting'portion vof said ring to cause the ring to be partially wardly toward the axis of the central open-- ing in said die.

7. A die for closing in roller bearin cages of the kind WhlCll comprise. space annular end members connected by annularly spaced bridges which form pockets for the rollers, said die comprising acasing having a central opening adapted to receive the bearing cage with the rollers in the pockets thereof and an inner bearing member, series of radially spaced finger plates slidably mounted in said casing, the inner ends of said fingers extending through the wall of said central opening, a cam ring surrounding said fingers and having cam faces adapted to engage the outer ends of the same, and means offset from the work receiving opening for partially rotating said ring to cause the cam faces thereof to engage the fingers and force the same inwardly against the bridges of the cage to bend the same inwardly toward the axis thereof. 8. A die fqr closing in roller bearing ca es of the kind which comprise spaced annu ar end members connected by annularly spaced bridges provided with wing portions which form pockets for the rollers, said die comprising a casing having a central opening adapted to receive the bearing cage with the rollers in the .pockets thereof and an inner bearing member,'series of radially spaced finger plates slidably mounted in said casin the inner ends of said fingers extending though the wall of said central opening, a canr'rlng surrounding said fin- .gersand-having cam faces adapted to engage the outer ends of the same, means for normally holding tho-cam faces of said ring out of engagement with said fingers, means offset from the work receiving opening" for partially rotating said ring to oause'the cam faces thereof to engage the fingers and force the same inwardly against the'bridges of 'the cage to bend the same in\va1'(lly-.-to\vard.

the axis thereof and to spread the wing portions of said cage apart, and means for automaticiilly returning said cam ring and said fingers to their normal positions.

9. A plunger for a die press. said plunger comprising separate members sleeved one in the other, a spring for holding said menibcrs apart, one of said members extending through the other of said members and having adjustable means thereon for drawing said members together and for separating them, and means for locking said adjustable means. I i

Signed at Canton, Ohio, this.18th day of Felu'uary,1920f 1 ERNEST G. STRONG.

EARL O. ROHN. 

